Redback Buzzard

Australian homebuilt helicopter

Buzzard

Role  | Helicopter

Type of aircraft

National origin | Australia
Manufacturer  | Redback Aviation
Status  | Production completed (2013)
Number built | one
Developed from | Star Aviation LoneStar

The Redback Buzzard is an Australian helicopter that was designed and produced by Redback Aviation of Hoppers Crossing, Victoria. The aircraft was intended to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction, but only one prototype was ever completed and development ended.[1][2]

## Design and development

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The Buzzard was based on the second generation Star Aviation LoneStar helicopter to which Redback own the rights. The Buzzard was designed to be a minimalist helicopter, using a maximum of off-the-shelf parts and to comply with the homebuilt aircraft rules. It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, skid-type landing gear and a Suzuki 75 hp (56 kW) four stroke engine.[1][2]

The aircraft fuselage is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with the tailboom built from carbon fibre. Its 6.10 m (20.0 ft) diameter two-bladed rotor has a chord of 20 cm (7.9 in), with anti-torque handled by a conventional two-bladed tail rotor. The main rotor transmission uses a combination of V-belts and toothed belts. Pitch link controls are mounted inside the hollow rotor mast tube. The aircraft has an empty weight of 193 kg (425 lb) and a gross weight of 386 kg (851 lb), giving a useful load of 193 kg (425 lb). With full fuel of 58.8 litres (12.9 imp gal; 15.5 US gal) the payload is 151 kg (333 lb).[1]

The company indicates that only one prototype was built and that it was sold, ending development of the aircraft, in favour of a new design, the Redback Aviation Spider.[2]

## Specifications (version)

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Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

* Crew: one
* Empty weight: 192 kg (423 lb)
* Gross weight: 386 kg (851 lb)
* Fuel capacity: 58.5 litres (12.9 imp gal; 15.5 US gal)
* Powerplant: 1 × Suzuki four stroke automotive engine, 56 kW (75 hp)
* Main rotor diameter: 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 169 km/h (105 mph, 91 kn)
* Cruise speed: 145 km/h (90 mph, 78 kn)
* Rate of climb: 5.0 m/s (980 ft/min)

## References

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1. ^ a b c d Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 193. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
2. ^ a b c Redback Aviation (n.d.). "Welcome To Redback Aviation's World Of Homebuilt Helicopters". Retrieved 7 February 2013.

## External links

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* Official website

* v
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* e

Redback Aviation aircraft

Helicopters|

* Buzzard
* Spider

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